ANC votes against Madonsela invitation to address Parliament
A motion to invite former Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela to address Parliament has failed after the African National Congress opposed it.
The motion was tabled by the Economic Freedom Fighters, who were lobbying for Madonsela to be allowed to address Parliament before the end of the year.
The motion failed when 183 MPs voted against it, and 89 voted in its favour. Eight abstained.
Opposing the motion, ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu said it was not part of convention to invite former heads of Chapter 9 institutions to address Parliament.
He said in the past, it was former heads of state and former heads of the judicial arm of the state which had been invited to address the National Assembly.
“The question is, where do we draw the line – shall this House invite outstanding judges, premiers, mayors, sports persons, the list is endless.”
He said there was no compelling reason for her to be allowed to address the National Assembly.
The farewell function by the speaker was more than sufficient, he said.
The Democratic Alliance, National Freedom Party, United Democratic Movement, Congress of the People, African Christian Democratic Party, Agang and the Inkatha Freedom Party were in full support of the motion.
Agang said they did not know what the ANC was afraid of, and Madonsela had stood strong in the face of adversary.
Traumatised by Zuma
“We are traumatised every year by being addressed by the president, who we know is corrupt. If this national assembly can have time to listen to president [Jacob] Zuma, I don’t know why we can’t listen to the public protector who is brave and honest,” Agang MP Molapi Plouamma said.
DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach said Madonsela had been a beacon of hope and a moral compass in the country.
NFP chief whip Nhlahla Khubisa said the EFF wanted Parliament wanted the National Assembly to set a precedent.
In a motion tabled in the National Assembly, EFF which whip Floyd Shivambu lauded Madonsela’s term in office.
The office had received heightened attention and high approval by members of the public in South Africa, he said.
He called for the National Assembly to invite Madonsela to Parliament.
“The National Assembly should invite Advocate Madonsela to address the House on a date to be agreed upon by the Programme Committee, but before the end of the 2016 annual session; and the address should specifically focus on Advocate Madonsela’s experiences during her tenure as Public Protector and lessons that should be applied to all public representatives, public servants and the public in the provision of quality services for all,” he said.
Shivambu called on MPs to be sensible and said there was nothing wrong with being the first to invite a former head of a Chapter 9 institution.
ACDP MP Steve Swart said it would be helpful for Madonsela to make final remarks on some of the challenges she had faced.
It would be an opportunity for them to learn from her, he said.
Read this: Government may relocate Parliament to Pretoria
Loading ...